No Shelf Life
By Michelle Wallace
Recently I was in a meeting with a developer who is collaborating on a project with the Gaines . In case you ’ ve been living under a rock and aren ’ t familiar with America ’ s favorite couple , they have one of the hottest shows on TV called Fixer Upper .
The show involves taking older , outdated homes and remodeling them for various clients . The transformations are amazing but it ’ s Joanna ’ s sweet disposition and Chip ’ s goofy demeanor that endear people to the show . Another thing I believe attracts people is the couple ’ s love for one another and their four children .
It ’ s refreshing to see the simplicity of their life on a farm in Waco , Texas , as well as the love they have for their hometown . Joanna shares her testimony in a short online video of the day she heard the Lord tell her to close their first little home decor store to be a stay-at-home mom . She recalls how God spoke to her heart ; if she followed His direction , He would take her dreams farther than she could imagine . Today their brand includes a massive home decor store , called Magnolia Market in the Silos , where you can shop , eat , play games and enjoy a concert on the lawn . They have a furniture line , there ’ s huge online retail , and more –– just to name a few .
The developer said the recent launch of their paint line was wise . “ Joanna ’ s a smart woman ,” he said , “ she knows she has a shelf life .” The words hit me like a ton of bricks ! I completely understood what he was saying , but I couldn ’ t even respond . So many emotions flooded me , and scriptures , one after the other , began turning over in my head . Shelf life ? Does Billy Graham have a shelf life ?
That may seem like a strange comparison of America ’ s favorite pastor and evangelist to America ’ s favorite TV home remodeling couple , but it ’ s not . The two are very vocal about their faith in public . But those who watch the show might never know they ’ re believers ; it ’ s just not brought up . They simply and quietly live it out . The words commonly attributed to Francis of Assisi come to mind , “ Preach Jesus , and if necessary use words .”
The developer was thinking of the shelf life of the brand . The truth is , number one TV shows don ’ t last forever . Home designs and furniture styles change . But the things they are sowing are eternal .
There is a fullness to the gospel that gets missed . Ephesians 2 : 8,9 tells us it is by grace we have been saved through faith , and this not from ourselves ; it is the gift of God , not by works , so that no one can boast . In other words , there is this great exchange . Jesus paid the penalty for our sin . We just accept that as a free gift , nothing we can do to earn it . But it ’ s more than an address change from hell to heaven . He also paid for us to experience life in Him that is full and overflowing . This is the life that the Gaines have on display . Ephesians 2 verse 10 goes on to say we are God ’ s workmanship , created in Christ Jesus to do good works , which God prepared in advance as our way of life . We don ’ t separate one vocation , like evangelist , from another
16 DALLAS COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MARCH / APRIL 2017